2026 CONCACAF U-20 Championship

2026 CONCACAF U-20 Championship
Campeonato Sub-20 de la Concacaf 2026
Tournament details
Host countryMexico
Dates24 July – 9 August
Teams12 (from 1 confederation)
Venues3 (in 2 host cities)
Final positions
Champions Mexico (15th title)
Runners-up United States
Tournament statistics
Matches played25
Goals scored82 (3.28 per match)
Top scorer(s)Mexico Hugo Camberos
(5 goals)
Best playerMexico Hugo Camberos
Best goalkeeperMexico Cristo Navarrete
Fair play award Mexico
← 2024
2028 →

The 2026 CONCACAF Under-20 Championship was the ninth edition of the CONCACAF Under-20 Championship, the biennial men's under-20 international association football tournament organized by CONCACAF. It was held in Mexico from 24 July to 9 August 2026.

As with the 2024 edition, 12 teams competed in three groups of four teams each followed by an eight-team knockout round. The tournament results determined CONCACAF's representatives at the 2027 FIFA U-20 World Cup in Azerbaijan and Uzbekistan, 2027 Pan American Games in Lima, and the men's football tournament at the 2028 Summer Olympics in Los Angeles.[1]

Qualification

CONCACAF announced the qualification format in November 2025. As the six highest-ranked Under-20 teams in CONCACAF, the United States, Mexico, Honduras, Panama, Cuba, and Guatemala received byes to the final tournament.[2] Thirty-two teams were drawn into six groups to play single round-robin matches with the six group winners qualifying.[3]

Qualified teams[a]
Received bye to final tournament Entered through qualifying
  1. ↑ CONCACAF U-20 ranking is in parentheses

Venues

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500km
311miles
Puebla
Puebla
Mexico City
Mexico City
Location of the host cities of the 2026 CONCACAF U-20 Championship.

On 7 May 2026, CONCACAF released the match schedule and list of venues after the group draw.

Puebla Mexico City
Estadio Universitario BUAP Estadio Cuauhtémoc Estadio Banorte
Capacity: 19,283[4] Capacity: 51,726[5] Capacity: 87,523[6]

Format

CONCACAF announced the tournament format in November 2025 (Sections 12.5–12.10):[1]

  • Group stage: Twelve teams were drawn into three groups of four teams to play single round-robin matches. The winners and runners-up from each group and the two highest-ranked third-place teams advance to the knockout stage.
  • Knockout stage: The eight teams advancing from the group stage are seeded with group winners ranked 1–3, runners-up 4–6, and third-place teams 7 and 8. The first- and eighth-seeded teams, the second- and seventh-seeded teams, the third- and sixth-seeded teams, and the fourth- and fifth-seeded teams will face off in quarter-finals 1–4, respectively. The winners of quarter-finals 1 and 4, and the winners of quarter-finals 2 and 3 will meet in the semi-finals, with the winners of those matches contesting the final.

The tournament determines the CONCACAF participants in the following tournaments (Sections 5.2–5.3):[1]

Draw

On 7 May 2026, CONCACAF held the group stage draw. The 12 qualified teams were divided into four pots of three teams each based on the CONCACAF ranking prior to qualification. Teams were drawn from Pot 1 into Groups A, B and C, in order, followed by teams from Pots 2, 3 and 4.

Draw pots[a]
Pot 1 Pot 2 Pot 3 Pot 4
  1. ↑ Numbers in parentheses indicate the CONCACAF ranking prior to qualification

Squads

Each team was required to register a squad of up to 21 players, three of whom had to be goalkeepers.

Group stage

Group stage matches were held from 24 July to 1 August. All match times are UTC-6.

Tie-breaking criteria for group stage ranking
The ranking of teams in each group was determined by the points obtained in all group matches. If two or more teams were equal on points, the following criteria were used to determine the ranking:[1]
  1. Superior goal difference in all group matches;
  2. Most goals scored in all group matches;

If, after having applied criteria a to b, teams still had an equal ranking, criteria a to b were reapplied exclusively to the matches between the teams who were still level to determine their final rankings.[note 3] If this procedure did not lead to a decision, criteria c to g applied.

  1. Most points obtained in the group matches played between the teams concerned;
  2. Superior goal difference in the group matches played between the teams concerned;
  3. Most goals scored in the group matches played between the teams concerned;
  4. Highest team conduct ("fair play") score in all group matches (only one deduction could be applied to a player or team coach/official in a single match):
    • Yellow card: −1 point;
    • Indirect red card (second yellow card): −3 points;
    • Direct red card: −4 points;
    • Yellow card and direct red card: −5 points;
  5. Better position in the most recent CONCACAF Under-20 ranking.

Group A

Pos Team Pld W D L GF GA GD Pts Qualification
1  United States 3 3 0 0 11 0 +11 9 Knockout stage
2  Haiti 3 2 0 1 5 6 −1 6
3  Cuba 3 1 0 2 5 8 −3 3
4  El Salvador 3 0 0 3 1 8 −7 0
Source: CONCACAF
Rules for classification: Tiebreakers
Cuba 3–0 El Salvador
  • Reinoso 18'
  • Águila 36'
  • R. Morales 89'
 Report
Referee: Jorge Ojeda (Nicaragua)
United States 3–0 Haiti
 Report
Referee: Michael Venne (Canada)
Haiti 3–2 Cuba
  • Joseph 16'
  • Celestine 34' (pen.)
  • Jacquet 90+1'
 Report
  • Iglesias 80'
  • Zerquera 90+4'
Referee: Nikolai Nyron (Trinidad and Tobago)
El Salvador 0–3 United States
Report
Referee: Félix Mojica (Nicaragua)
El Salvador 1–2 Haiti
Coreas 56' (pen.) Report
  • Exantus 22'
  • Jacquet 62'
Referee: Ismael López (Mexico)
United States 5–0 Cuba
  • Ramos 2'
  • Shaw 26'
  • Dayes 75'
  • Torquato 78'
  • Vanney 82'
 Report
Referee: Jorge Leira (Panama)

Group B

Pos Team Pld W D L GF GA GD Pts Qualification
1  Mexico (H) 3 3 0 0 9 0 +9 9 Knockout stage
2  Costa Rica 3 2 0 1 5 3 +2 6
3  Guatemala 3 1 0 2 4 5 −1 3
4  Antigua and Barbuda 3 0 0 3 1 11 −10 0
Source: CONCACAF
Rules for classification: Tiebreakers
(H) Hosts
Guatemala 0–1 Costa Rica
Report K. Hernández 77'
Mexico 3–0 Antigua and Barbuda
 Report
Referee: Jorge Leira (Panama)
Antigua and Barbuda 0–4 Guatemala
Report
  • De León 14'
  • Ramos 38'
  • González 82'
  • Guerra 86'
Referee: Eric De La Cruz (Cuba)
Costa Rica 0–2 Mexico
Report
Referee: Guido Gonzales (United States)
Costa Rica 4–1 Antigua and Barbuda
 Report Jackson 54'
Referee: Jorge Ojeda (Nicaragua)
Mexico 4–0 Guatemala
 Report
Referee: Michael Venne (Canada)

Group C

Pos Team Pld W D L GF GA GD Pts Qualification
1  Canada 3 1 2 0 6 3 +3 5 Knockout stage
2  Jamaica 3 1 2 0 6 5 +1 5
3  Panama 3 1 1 1 6 5 +1 4
4  Honduras 3 0 1 2 2 7 −5 1
Source: CONCACAF
Rules for classification: Tiebreakers
Panama 0–3 Canada
Report
Referee: Ismael López (Mexico)
Honduras 1–2 Jamaica
Salazar 75' Report
Referee: Cristhofer Corado (Guatemala)
Jamaica 2–2 Panama
 Report
  • Richards 13'
  • Gordón 22'
Referee: Waldir García (El Salvador)
Canada 1–1 Honduras
Lima 57' Report Martínez 64'
Referee: Shavin Greene (Guyana)
Canada 2–2 Jamaica
 Report
Referee: Guido Gonzales Jr (United States)
Honduras 0–4 Panama
Report
  • Wood 33'
  • Richards 42'
  • Gordón 45+4'
  • Rodríguez 69'

Overall ranking of teams

Pos Grp Team Pld W D L GF GA GD Pts Qualification
1 A  United States 3 3 0 0 11 0 +11 9 Knockout stage
2 B  Mexico 3 3 0 0 9 0 +9 9
3 C  Canada 3 1 2 0 6 3 +3 5
4 B  Costa Rica 3 2 0 1 5 3 +2 6 Knockout stage
5 A  Haiti 3 2 0 1 5 6 −1 6
6 C  Jamaica 3 1 2 0 6 5 +1 5
7 C  Panama 3 1 1 1 6 5 +1 4 Knockout stage
8 B  Guatemala 3 1 0 2 4 5 −1 3
9 A  Cuba 3 1 0 2 5 8 −3 3
10 C  Honduras 3 0 1 2 2 7 −5 1
11 A  El Salvador 3 0 0 3 1 8 −7 0
12 B  Antigua and Barbuda 3 0 0 3 1 11 −10 0
Source: CONCACAF
Rules for classification: 1) Points; 2) Goal difference; 3) Goals scored; 4) Team conduct ("fair play") score; 5) Latest CONCACAF ranking.

Knockout stage

The knockout stage will use a single-elimination format, starting with the quarter-finals on 4 August and culminating with the final on 9 August. If the score is even after regulation time in a match, 30 minutes of extra time were added. If still tied after this, a penalty shootout determined the winner.[1]

All match times are UTC-6

Bracket

 
Quarter-finalsSemi-finalsFinal
 
          
 
 4 August – Puebla (Cuauhtémoc)
 
 
  Costa Rica (p) 1 (5)
 
 7 August – Mexico City
 
  Haiti 1 (3)
 
  Costa Rica 0
 
 4 August – Puebla (Cuauhtémoc)
 
  United States 2
 
  United States 3
 
 9 August – Mexico City
 
  Guatemala 1
 
  United States 0
 
 5 August – Puebla (Cuauhtémoc)
 
  Mexico 2
 
  Canada (a.e.t.) 3
 
 7 August – Mexico City
 
  Jamaica 1
 
  Canada 1
 
 5 August – Puebla (Cuauhtémoc)
 
  Mexico 2
 
  Mexico 4
 
 
  Panama 0
 

Quarter-finals

The winners qualified for the 2027 FIFA U-20 World Cup.

Costa Rica 1–1 (a.e.t.) Haiti
Sosa 55' (pen.) Report Exantus 9'
Penalties
  • Sosa football with check mark
  • Palmer football with check mark
  • Garro football with check mark
  • Leal football with check mark
  • O'rourke football with check mark
 5–3
Referee: Guido Gonzales Jr (United States)
United States 3–1 Guatemala
  • Dayes 45+5'
  • Klapija 68'
  • Torquato 75'
 Report De León 36'
Referee: Shavin Greene (Guyana)
Canada 3–1 (a.e.t.) Jamaica
 Report Nolan 87' (pen.)
Referee: Ismael López (Mexico)
Mexico 4–0 Panama
  • Echilvestre 34'
  • Camberos 57'
  • Orozco 75'
  • Ramírez 88'
 Report
Referee: Michael Venne (Canada)

Semi-finals

Costa Rica 0–2 United States
Report
Referee: Jorge Leira (Panama)

The winner qualified for the 2027 Pan American Games and the 2028 Summer Olympics.

Canada 1–2 Mexico
Graham-Roache 6' Report
Referee: Cristhofer Corado (Guatemala)

Final

United States 0–2 Mexico
Report Alfaro 28', 69'

Statistics

Goalscorers

There were 82 goals scored in 25 matches, for an average of 3.28 goals per match.

5 goals

4 goals

3 goals

2 goals

  • Canada Emrick Fotsing
  • Costa Rica Yerlan Sosa
  • Guatemala Óscar de León
  • Haiti Clavens Exantus
  • Haiti Da-Benz Jacquet
  • Mexico Diego Ramírez
  • Panama Gerson Gordón
  • Panama Moisés Richards
  • United States Brandon Dayes
  • United States Joshua Torquato

1 goal

1 own goal

  • Costa Rica Emmanuel Brenes (against Mexico)

Source: CONCACAF

Qualification for international tournaments

Qualified teams for FIFA U-20 World Cup

The following four teams qualified for the 2027 FIFA U-20 World Cup in Azerbaijan and Uzbekistan.

Team Qualified on Previous appearances in FIFA U-20 World Cup[a]
 Costa Rica4 August 2026[8]9 (1989, 1995, 1997, 1999, 2001, 2007, 2009, 2011, 2017)
 United States4 August 2026[8]18 (1981, 1983, 1987, 1989, 1993, 1997, 1999, 2001, 2003, 2005, 2007, 2009, 2013, 2015, 2017, 2019, 2023, 2025)
 Canada5 August 2026[9]8 (1979, 1985, 1987, 1997, 2001, 2003, 2005, 2007)
 Mexico5 August 2026[9]17 (1977, 1979, 1981, 1983, 1985, 1991, 1993, 1997, 1999, 2003, 2007, 2011, 2013, 2015, 2017, 2019, 2025)
  1. ↑ Italic indicates hosts for that year.

Qualified teams for Pan American Games

The champion team and the top team from each of the three CONCACAF zones, i.e., Caribbean (CFU), Central America (UNCAF), and North America (NAFU), qualified for the 2027 Pan American Games men's football tournament.[10][11]

The following four teams from CONCACAF qualified for the 2027 Pan American Games men's football tournament in Peru.

Team Zone Qualified on Previous appearances in Pan American Games[a]
 HaitiCFU5 August 20264 (1959, 1971, 1991, 2007)
 Costa RicaUNCAF5 August 20268 (1951, 1959, 1975, 1979, 1995, 1999, 2007, 2011)
 United StatesNAFU7 August 202613 (1959, 1963, 1967, 1971, 1975, 1979, 1983, 1987, 1991, 1995, 1999, 2007, 2023)
 MexicoNAFU7 August 202616 (1955, 1959, 1967, 1971, 1975, 1983, 1987, 1991, 1995, 1999, 2003, 2007, 2011, 2015, 2019, 2023)
  1. ↑ Bold indicates champions for that year. Italic indicates hosts for that year.

Qualified teams for 2028 Summer Olympics

The following two teams qualified for the 2028 Summer Olympics (the United States qualified as hosts):

Team Qualified on Previous appearances in Summer Olympics[a]
 United States13 September 201715 (1904, 1924, 1928, 1936, 1948, 1952, 1956, 1972, 1984, 1988, 1992, 1996, 2000, 2008, 2024)[b]
 Mexico7 August 202612 (1928, 1948, 1964, 1968, 1972, 1976, 1992, 1996, 2004, 2012, 2016, 2020)
  1. ↑ Bold indicates champions for that year. Italic indicates hosts for that year.
  2. ↑ The United States qualified for the 1980 Olympics, but led a boycott of the Games and were replaced by Cuba.

Notes

  1. ↑ As all teams taking part are FIFA-affiliated, the four semi-finalists will qualify.
  2. ↑ As all teams taking part are IOC-affiliated, the tournament champion or, if the winner is the United States, the runner-up will qualify.
  3. ↑ When there were two or more teams tied on points, criteria a to b were applied. After these criteria were applied, they may have defined the position of some of the teams involved, but not all of them. For example, if there was a three-way tie on points, the application of the first three criteria may only have broken the tie for one of the teams, leaving the other two teams still tied. In this case, the tiebreaking procedure was resumed, from the beginning, for those teams that were still tied.
  4. ↑ Originally scheduled for 20:00, the match was delayed to 21:00 due to thunderstorms in the area.[7]

References

  1. 1 2 3 4 5 "CONCACAF Under-20 Championship Regulations 2026" (PDF). CONCACAF. 26 November 2025. Retrieved 16 February 2026.
  2. ↑ "Key Details Announced for 2026 Concacaf U-20 Qualifiers". concacaf.com. CONCACAF. 28 October 2025. Retrieved 12 February 2026.
  3. ↑ "Draw Reveals Groups for 2026 Concacaf U-20 Qualifiers". concacaf.com. CONCACAF. 6 November 2025. Retrieved 12 February 2026.
  4. ↑ Aguilar, César (26 May 2017). "De panzazo cumple Lobos el requisito por Estadio BUAP" (in Spanish). Diario Cambio. Retrieved 11 May 2026.
  5. ↑ Guzmán Uribe, Edgar (13 November 2015). "Con remodelación, Estadio Cuauhtémoc es cuarto con mayor capacidad" (in Spanish). Ángulo 7. Archived from the original on 16 November 2015.
  6. ↑ "2026 FIFA World Cup Bid Book" (PDF). p. 161. Archived (PDF) from the original on 15 September 2021. Retrieved 5 April 2018.
  7. ↑ CONCACAF [@Concacaf] (7 August 2026). "New kickoff time confirmed" (Tweet). Retrieved 7 August 2026 – via X (formerly Twitter).
  8. 1 2 "Costa Rica and USA qualify for U-20 World Cup". FIFA. 4 August 2026. Retrieved 9 August 2026.
  9. 1 2 "Canada and Mexico book U-20 World Cup spots". FIFA. 5 August 2026. Retrieved 9 August 2026.
  10. ↑ Figueroa, Fredi (22 July 2026). "Tri Sub 20 empieza misión retorno a Juegos Olímpicos" [Tri U20 begins its mission to return to the Olympic Games] (in Spanish). El Economista. Retrieved 8 August 2026.
  11. ↑ Segoviano, Abigail (29 July 2026). "Que está en juego en el Campeonato Sub-20 de Concacaf" [What's at stake in the CONCACAF U-20 Championship]. www.azcentral.com (in Spanish). The Arizona Republic. Retrieved 8 August 2026.
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